Former IP Jagath Nishantha arrested over Weligama W15 hotel shooting

2026-02-24 - 03:28

Former Inspector of Police (IP) Jagath Nishantha, who was wanted in connection with the 2024 shooting incident near the W15 Hotel in Weligama and had fled overseas, was arrested yesterday upon his return to Sri Lanka, police said. The Matara Magistrate’s Court had earlier ordered the arrest of eight former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), including former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, and directed that they be named as suspects in the shooting incident that occurred in front of the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara, on December 31, 2023. According to police, on December 31, 2023, a team of CCD officers had travelled to Weligama allegedly to arrest a group linked to notorious underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne, also known as ‘Harak Kata.’ Police stated that officers in civilian attire came under attack from within the hotel premises, prompting them to open fire in response. Subsequently, a mobile patrol vehicle from the Weligama Police Station arrived at the scene and opened fire at the van in which the CCD officers had arrived, reportedly due to a misunderstanding. Weligama Police officers had allegedly mistaken the van for one transporting criminals. As a result of the exchange of fire, two CCD officers inside the van sustained gunshot injuries. One of them, 47-year-old Police Sergeant Upul Chaminda Kumara of the Colombo Crimes Division, later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment. Meanwhile, former Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Colombo Crimes Division, Chief Inspector Anselm de Silva, testified before the Parliamentary Committee appointed to investigate allegations against suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. He stated that the order for the team, including himself, to proceed with the operation targeting the W15 Hotel in Weligama had been given by then Acting Director of the CCD, Assistant Superintendent of Police Neville de Silva. It was also revealed that the W15 Hotel in Weligama is owned by Mohamed Isham Jamaldeen, also known as “Hardy,” the son of former Uva Province Governor A.J.M. Muzammil.